Newtown Student: I Was Cheated on Jeopardy!

Thomas Hurley III, an eighth-grader from Newtown, Conn. who appeared on Jeopardy!'s kids tournament last week, says his Final Jeopardy answer was unfairly ruled incorrect.

Under the category "Famous Documents,'' the Final Jeopardy question referenced an 1863 document that President Abraham Lincoln called a "fit and necessary war measure.'' The correct answer was "Emancipation Proclamation," but Hurley flubbed the spelling, writing "Emanciptation Proclamation."

"Because he misspelled it badly ... that's unfortunate. The judges are ruling against you," host Alex Trebek told a chagrined Hurley, who had wagered $3,000 on the answer. (He walked away with $2,000 as the second runner-up.)

The contestant who finished in first place ended with $66,000, so it would have been impossible for Hurley to win regardless, but he was still disappointed about the judges' decision.